get by
verb
got by; got by or gotten by; getting by; gets by
1
: to succeed with the least possible effort or accomplishment
2
: to make ends meet : survive
3
: to proceed without being discovered, criticized, or punished
Examples of get by in a Sentence
working at night paid my college tuition and enabled me to get by—but just barely
Recent Examples on the Web
The thieves got by a security guard standing outside, but their images were captured by surveillance video, KTLA reported.
—
Los Angeles Times, 23 Jan. 2026
Meanwhile, the McFaddens are showering at a relative's home and relying on jugs of water to get by.
—Liz Crawford, CBS News, 22 Jan. 2026
There's not a frame that gets by him.
—Erin Clack, PEOPLE, 19 Jan. 2026
The coming-of-age story follows 15-year-old Spider (Grace) and her younger sister who are trying to get by after their mother suffers a fatal overdose.
—Andreas Wiseman, Deadline, 19 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for get by
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Los Angeles Times, 23 Jan. 2026
Meanwhile, the McFaddens are showering at a relative's home and relying on jugs of water to get by.
—Liz Crawford, CBS News, 22 Jan. 2026
There's not a frame that gets by him.
—Erin Clack, PEOPLE, 19 Jan. 2026
The coming-of-age story follows 15-year-old Spider (Grace) and her younger sister who are trying to get by after their mother suffers a fatal overdose.
—Andreas Wiseman, Deadline, 19 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for get by
Cite this Entry
“Get by.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/get%20by. Accessed 25 Jan. 2026.
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